West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-06-10

it was in 1860 and you will ind that
we are correct, Such is the case
throughout the South, except in the
localities accident has favored. Ger
tain parts of Florida have received
an immigration of capitalists; GER
tain dry spots in the pine lands of
Georgia and South Carolina are
frequented by consumptives in
search of health; portions of
Texas have suddenly become won
derfully prosperous; railroad man
ayers have invested in and de
veloped few places like Roanoke,
Va, and Birmingham, Ala. but
these instances may be counted on
ones fingers while the remaining
territory stands still or is going
backward. The agricultural pro-
duction of the country is greater
than ever, but the farming class do
not accumulate. Experience dem
onstrates that the manufacturing
class, in the long run, does not
thrive when the farming class is un-
prosperous. We have not space to
give at this time many thoughts on
this subject; they must be distribu-
ted through many numbers of the
paper. We can only add, that those
best able to anticipate the future
believe that, unless the tariff is re-
formed, ten years hence will find the
South in q very unprosperous condi-
ton. Such undoubtedly is the judg-
ment of her ablest men. And in
this connection we invite your atten-
ton to what is printed elsewhere
from the Philadelphia Record of the
same date as your letter.
1t is the fashion for our politi-
clans to say that West Virginia is
vitality interested in the tariff on
coal and lumber. We have long ln-
tended to 90 fully into this question,
but have not been able to obtain re-
liable information touching the cost
of coal from Nova Scotia. Those
interested in the tariff tax have pub
lished whatever is calculated to shape
public opinion in favor of maintain
ing the tax, but no one, so far as we
can learn, has incurred the expense
and labor of ascertaining the exact
truth. And this illustrates how i'm
portant it is that the general public
should stand by and encourage the
men who fight the battles of the un
privileged masses. The millionaire,
who has become such by means of
unjust legislation can well afford to
spend money freely to mislead the
popular judgment, but there is no
one sufficiently interested to gather
the exact facts. While we do not
pretend to be accurately informed of
the costs of mining coal in Nova
Scotia, yet we have every reason to
believe that it can be mined as
cheaply in West Virginia; and, if
such be the case, then our develop
ment is hindered far more by Excess
sive railroad freights than it is
helped by the tariff tax. Is it the
part of wisdom for you to refuse in
formation on subjects such as these?
This information will not be obtain
ed from our politicians. We have
in West Virginia certain very
wealthy individuals, interested in
coal and lumber, and particularly
interested in buying such lands
cheap, who are active in politics and
liberal to newspapers. You cannot
fail to observe that our public speak
ers CAREFUL refrain from the discus
sion of subjects these wealthy indi-
viduals do not wish agitated. Con-
slider for a moment what will be the
future of this State if men like you
refuse to read papers like the DEM
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